Champ of Champs Fours

28-29 May 2022

Women's Final
Leading into the Fours Final, the Carlton Cornwall team had winning another title in their sights. Their experience, competitiveness, determination and teamwork have yielded the Midas touch for Carlton ladies this season - as it turns out, it wasn't going to elude them for this match.

It's the Finals. Carlton Cornwall's Karen Hema, Karen de Jongh, Lisa Prideaux and Linda Ralph were against Henderson's Laurita Arnerich, Josie Mitchell, Maria Brown and Lenice Baker. Carlton was first to score and remained in front for the duration of the match. However, the ladies from Henderson weren't giving up. They battled back in the latter part of the game to gain points, they were unlucky with their final bowl! Once more, Carlton Cornwall is the victor, winning 21-17.

Men's Final
Pt Chevalier; Alex Reed, Colin Williams, Harry Davis & Aiden Takarua were in dominant form during this championship, defeating worthy opponents in the earlier rounds to secure their place in the Final. 

Their challenger was Carlton Cornwall's Max Ulrich, Ivan Zonich Ken McDermott, and John Corse-Scott.

We talked earlier about teamwork. Pt Chevalier showed us another example of how it's done. Each man in green was contributing. Aiden and Harry kept laying the foundations to have Alex and Colin take advantage of their great positional play. While Carlton Cornwall showed glimpses of their skill, Pt Chev's bowling skills were magic to watch - they were too strong for their opposition, winning 19-8.

Congratulations to the newest Men's Fours titleholders from Pt Chevalier. We also congratulate Carlton Cornwall's Women's Fours, that's two years running for them.

Men's champions - Colin Williams, Aiden Takaura, Harry Davis & Alex Reed from Pt Chevalier
Women's champions - Linda Ralph, Karen de Jongh, Karen Hema & Lisa Prideaux from Carlton Cornwall

Women's runner-up: Henderson's team of Laurita Arnerich, Josie Mitchell, Maria Brown & Lenice Baker
Men's runner-up: Carlton Cornwall's team of Max Ulrich, Ivan Zonich, Ken McDermott & John Corse-Scott

1-5 Year Singles

28-29 May 2022

The total combined Singles entries were on par with last year's entries, making this a popular discipline to compete in. The playing format for qualifying had a little refresh. Players and teams are playing three rounds with those winning two or three games qualifying for Post Section. Like our previous two weekends, the 1-5 Year Post Section was reliant on how many teams got through... it's all fun for the planners!

This weekend, we completed the Women's competition while the Men played to the Semi-finals stage. Their final will take place on 18 June.

In the Women's Finals, Pip Wilton from St Heliers played against Linda Fenton from Howick. These two ladies have become great bowlers and great friends.  They have competed together as well as been rivals on the bowling green. On this occasion, Pip triumphs, winning the title from Linda, 21-6. Congratulations on a great win Pip.

Singles champion: Pip Wilton from St Heliers with runner-up Linda Fenton from Howick

1-5 Year Finals update

There are a few players competing in more than one 1-5 Year discipline this weekend, which means we have to adjust the Finals programme slightly to provide a better flow of matches for players.  Good luck 1-5s.

Upcoming events

Academy Skills Training

1 June 2022

Last night's Academy Skills Training squad. A fun night had by all with plenty of homework ahead to complete.

Weight control was the topic with the squad performing relevant activities and games. The ultimate goal is to develop a full range of skill sets and reach their full playing potential.  A special thank you to the Remuera Club for the use of the indoor green.

From our clubs

Thanks to the bowling community

Kohimarama Bowls
28-29 May 2022

Thank you Auckland bowling community!  Our friends and business neighbours let us know how much they enjoyed the buzz at KBC this past weekend, as hosts for the Champ of Champs Fours and 1-5 Year Singles. We loved having you too – the spectators, markers and umpires were all fantastic - especially enduring that Sunday weather!

If you miss hanging out with us at Kohimarama on the weekends, come play in our Sunday Pak’nSave 2-4-2s - starting this Sunday, at a very civilised hour of 12pm.
Click here to find out more

Contributed by Cynthia Morris

Carlton Cornwall's quaddie!

Champion of Champion Women's Fours
Karen Hema (skip), Karen de Jongh, Lisa Prideaux and Linda Ralph (lead) scored a rare quaddie when they won the Auckland Champion of Champions Women’s Fours title.  This was a clean sweep in the CoC Women’s disciplines for the Carlton Cornwall Club, a first for the Auckland Centre. 

This was a dominant display as the women powered their way to comfortable wins in the Quarter-final (16–9) and the Semi-final (21–10). 

In the Final, the team came up against Henderson, who had beaten New Lynn 15–13 in a real nail-biter. The CCB team was relentless in their pursuit of victory and lead 9–0 after four ends. Some strategic bowling and some good fortune went Henderson’s way in the following ends. However, CCB kept applying the pressure and lead 21–9 after 12 ends.  Henderson was far from vanquished and scored a five on the 13th end and a one on the 14th end.  Henderson drew first blood on the final end with an opening toucher, Linda Ralph matched that with a close second and from there it was a matter of playing position and cover. Henderson had their opportunity with their final bowl to drag the jack to a group of their bowls that could have tied the match.  The skip did connect with the jack, alas it did not spring far enough, and they had to settle for two.

In addition to the Women’s quaddie, the club also scored a rare double with the Men and Women both winning their respective CoCs Pairs titles. This is another first for the Auckland Centre where one club has won both Men’s and Women’s CoC discipline titles.

All players involved in the CoCs wins are looking forward to representing their club and the Centre at the various National CoC events.

Champion of Champion Men’s Fours
The Carlton Cornwall Men’s Fours team of Max Urlich (skip), Ken McDermott, John Corse-Scott and Ivan Zonich (lead) boasted a combined age of 317 years (not the oldest team to have ever won the club Fours) when they took to the green on Saturday morning.

We all know that bowls is a funny sport and anything can happen on the day. And, for the CCB men, happen it did. Ivan Zonich seemed to have the jack glued to his bowls.  He was well supported by those that followed with Max Urlich playing some master shots to show why he is still a force to be reckoned with.

On Sunday, the team was up against a well-performing St Heliers combination. CCB started where they had left off and were out to an 8–1 lead after six ends. The game see-sawed with St Heliers playing some great catchup shots only to see CCB ease away again. After the 14th end, CCB had maintained their seven-shot advantage and led 17–10.  The final end saw the wheels come right off the CCB team and only a brilliant last bowl from Max Urlich to sit among the St Heliers pack gave Paul Renwick a near-impossible shot to score seven. His effort went oh so close, but alas the five were insufficient.

The Final between CCB and Pt Chevalier promised so much. With the TV cameras on the match, some of the CCB members had to modify their natural style of play.  Irrespective of that, the Pt Chevalier combination proved too strong and deservedly won 19–8.

We are so proud of that’s Men’s team. We wish Pt Chev all the best in the National Champion of Champions event.

Contributed by Gerard Hulst

Club events